The unmistakable smooth warmth of the Pillar’s jade aura materialized in Niko’s Perception two seconds before Hilo walked up behind them, his hands in the pockets of his jacket. The expression on his face was unreadable, although his eyes were tired.
“Andy,” he said, “let me talk to my son alone.”
Anden looked between the Pillar and Niko. Wordlessly, he put a hand on his nephew’s shoulder and gave it a supportive squeeze. Then he touched his forehead to the Pillar in expressionless acknowledgment and walked away, back through the airport terminal.
“Take a walk with me,” Hilo said.
“I’m about to get on a plane.”
“It’ll only take a minute,” his uncle said, with such familiar parental authority that Niko obeyed. They walked farther down the terminal. Niko wanted to act rude and angry. The Pillar knew he’d been staying at Anden’s place. If he’d wanted to talk, he could’ve shown up at any time earlier, instead of at the last minute, with the flight about to depart.
But he’d shown up, in the end.
“Does Ma know you’re here?” Niko asked.
“Yes,” Hilo said.
So his mother was still furious at him. Otherwise, she would be here as well. Everyone knew the vengeful reputation of Kaul Hilo, but Niko understood that his mother was the one who was less forgiving, who could carry a longer grudge.
“You’re not going to change my mind,” Niko declared. “It’s too late for that.”
“It’s too late for a lot of things.” Hilo stopped and turned to face his nephew. He handed Niko an envelope. “I’ve given you back access to your bank accounts. There’s a calling card in the envelope, and a list of phone numbers—the Weather Man’s branch offices in every country where we have them, and contact numbers for Green Bones overseas who are part of the clan or are our allies, who’ll help you if you need help. Only if you really need it. Otherwise, you’re on your own.”
Several conflicting impulses came into Niko’s mind but he couldn’t form any of them in words. He wanted to disdainfully reject his uncle’s gesture and hang on to the emotional advantage, but that seemed a childish thing to do. He wanted to relent, to say something that would make things right between them before he left, but that felt like admitting defeat. Niko had never been good at responding to his feelings in the moment, so he said nothing.
The final boarding call was announced. He put the envelope in his inside jacket pocket. “I’d better go,” he mumbled.
Hilo cupped a hand roughly around the back of Niko’s head, pulling his nephew close, and spoke in a low declaration. “I would cut Jim Sunto’s throat and burn his company to the ground if I thought that would stop you.” His grip tightened fiercely on the back of Niko’s neck. “But I know it’s not about that. I love you enough to see that you have the right to hate me. Just remember, I only ever made the decisions I thought were best for you.”
His uncle let go. His jade aura receded as he walked away through the streams of people.
_______
Hilo stepped out of the airport and got into the passenger seat of Lott’s Lumezza FT Scorpion as it pulled up to the curb. They drove to an airport hotel and went up to a guest suite on the fifth floor. Vin Solu, the new First Fist of Janloon, was in the room along with Hejo, the First Fist of White Rats, and one of Hejo’s tech experts. Three young men were seated around a table covered with small gadgets, listening as Hejo and his technician explained each of the items. At Hilo and Lott’s entrance, the men stood hastily and saluted the Pillar. “Kaul-jen,” they murmured in unison.
Hilo looked them over. Two of the young men were Golden Spiders from the Kekonese army: a man named Dasho whom Hilo did not know, and Teije Inno, a remote cousin of the Kaul family. The third young man was a junior Finger named Sim. All of them had been quickly but carefully chosen by the Horn. They each wore a little jade, five pieces at the most, and fit the profile of lower-ranked Green Bones looking to better their fortunes. Each had applied separately and been offered employment by GSI. Packed suitcases and bags sat on the floor near their feet.
“Niko’s on his flight,” Hilo said. “You’ll all be leaving on different ones over the next day.”
Lott withdrew an envelope from his pocket and handed out airplane tickets to each man, along with credit cards and cash. Hilo surveyed the various items on the table, several of which had been opened up to show their workings: hidden cameras built into travel alarm clocks and pens, audio recorders inside cigarette lighters, bugs that could be planted inside rooms, and most ingeniously of all, recording devices concealed within or behind jade watches, earrings, and pendants. Those had been the most expensive and difficult to create, but were also the most likely to go undetected. GSI recruits could bring their own personal jade and wear it as they liked, and no one would dare to touch or closely examine another man’s jade.